OFFICIAL: Patriots vs. Bengals Post-Game Thread

[SEA_Pat]

They're just spur of the moment, knee jerk reactions, IMO. The game, and the thread move so fast, and I think people are just reacting to the moment. I have mentioned this in previous threads, but I equate it to the guy in the sports bar reacting to a bad play ie "Get your head out of your ***" ," You F'n suck".... I guess some take it too far. I think I'm a little tamer, but I've been known to throw in a "It's over" or "This secondary/ Oline sucks" or two. I just don't get the people who get hung up on somebody else's reaction to an emotionally charged battle. I know I've seen TB go over the top a few times from bad play. Emotions.

Well, I can handle a few spur of the moment reactions; I make them too, although I find the journey from the lizard brain to the keyboard always dissipates them by the time I'm ready to type. It's the relentlessly negative ones I'm referring to. I think we all know who they are. Just get a grip people and enjoy the ride. The other guys get paid too.

The bad old days will eventually come around again, and I'd hate to see what they're like then. This is the advantage of being an old Pats fan - we remember what it used to be like. The ones who've never experienced a losing season are going to be in for a hell of a shock (this post caused me to look this up - 1995 and 2000 were the last ones!). A fan who was 12 in 2000 would be 28 now...

 

[SEA_Pat]

Oh No. Don't upset the homers. This is a PC thread.

The post you referred to (which I can't figure out how to put into the quotations) was an example of the kind of analysis I appreciate even though it's not complimentary of the Patriots. You don't see a difference between legitimate and detailed questioning of the offensive game plan in the first half and "God Logan Ryan sucks!"?

 

[deroc5050]

What would you consider the 3rd best D in the NFL?

I don't know but definitely not the Patriots. They might be doing great in points against so far, but that doesn't tell the whole story. Their secondary is questionable. The Pats will get better as the season goes on though. Hopefully they improve there 3rd down defense.

 

[moejr]

Gronk nonsense was because of Burfict going in low and dirty on Bennett when he didn't even have the football.

Bengals fans don't see it that way. I hope Burfict gets fined good for that play. Cinci's fans are just as classless as their team

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

And thats important too ..

With 3 different quarterbacks no less....what are the odds of that?!

 

[manxman2601]

No doubt this point has already been made, but Elandon Roberts looked a lot like Hightower out there today. Tough to do as Hightower was a beast.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

Elandon Roberts was a huge steal in the draft

It was Belichik who first noticed him while scouting another guy on tape.

 

[manxman2601]

Blount has been outstanding this year. Those stretch plays in the 5,7,9 gaps have been really effective, particularly when they run them to the left side. And he's running harder than I think he ever has here.

 

[manxman2601]

For anyone that is into pff

Top offensive grades:

TE Rob Gronkowski, 89.3

QB Tom Brady, 84.5

RG Shaquille Mason, 78.6

LT Nate Solder, 77.7

RT Marcus Cannon, 77.7

Gronkowski dominates for the second straight week

TE Rob Gronkowski was unstoppable as a receiver, catching seven of the eight balls thrown his way for 162 yards (23.1 yards per catch) and his first touchdown of 2016. Gronkowski had receptions of 29+ yards against four different Bengals in coverage, and looks like he is finally healthy after a slow return. He has 12 catches for 271 yards in the past two weeks, and has forced five missed tackles. RB James White was also excellent, catching all eight passes thrown his way for 47 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Top defensive grades:

CB Malcolm Butler, 95.9

LB Dont’a Hightower, 89.9

LB Elandon Roberts, 84.7

DT Malcom Brown, 80.0

DE Rob Ninkovich, 79.8

Butler and Hightower lead the defense

Even though he surrendered a touchdown to former teammate Brandon LaFell, Patriots CB Malcolm Butler finished with the best grade of his career. Butler was targeted seven times, allowing three completions for just 17 yards (2.4 yards per attempt), and broke up three passes. LB Dont’a Hightower recorded two sacks and three hurries on just 10 pass rushes, with one of the sacks causing a safety. Hightower is about as dominant a pass-rusher among off-the-line linebackers as you will find, and currently leads all NFL linebackers in pass-rushing grade for the second season in a row. Rookie LB Elandon Roberts got his first career start in place of the injured Jamie Collins, and more than held his own. Roberts earned positive marks for run defense, pass rushing, and coverage; the sixth-round pick looks like a steal.

Shaq Mason surprises me. Very nice to see. And credit to Marcus Cannon too who's been a comparative revelation this year.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

This was a typical Bungals game - they take cheap shots, start fights, act like thugs, and get their ***es whipped.

 

[Huckleberry1]

The Patriots have some areas to clean up but I love how physical they are, it bodes well for the playoffs, and once they went two TE no huddle the game was over, the Bengals had no answers for it and I doubt anyone will be able to stop it, there's no way to match up with it.

 

[TheFlyingWedge]

Main takeaway from this game is that the two TE set with Gronk and Bennett is unstoppable. I think we'll be seeing this all season long.

 

[Tony2046]

Didn't know that. Thanks.

 

[RIpats88]

Main takeaway from this game is that the two TE set with Gronk and Bennett is unstoppable. I think we'll be seeing this all season long.

and yet in the first half, I think Gronk/bennett were paired on a low % of snaps together according to Mike reiss...not sure why.

but I dont think it is a coincidence that once they ran 2 TE sets the offense took off.

Only 7 of bradys passes yesterday were to WR's. that should scare alot of teams as it shows that the Pats have more than one way to kill you.

 

[DaBruinz]

Yeah I agree but the Patriots Defense is hard to read this year. They almost let Miami back in the game this year.. tannehill went 20-21 in Pass attempts.. They let Cinci have 2 or 3 8 minute drives and could not get off the field. The browns lost there QB but he drove it right down on us for a TD before hightower knocked him out of the game. We beat gave up a potential game winning drive to Arizona they just missed the kick. The Bills beat the snot out of us, we only gave up 16 points but they dominated us.

The Texans game was good but we now know the TExans offense is pathetic.. I mean indy is shutting them down.

The Pats D has been good enough so far but not great by any means.

Deroc - Something to remember is that the Patriots are the most dominant team since 2001 and have won 7 straight divisional Championships. They are viewed by other teams as "the Man". And to be "the Man" you have to beat "The Man" (to quote some wrestler who quoted someone else). So, teams don't just bring their "A" games every year. They bring their "A+" games. The game against the Patriots is what they use as a measuring stick.

- Cinci had ONE drive that was close to 8 minutes.. That's it.. There was ONE other drive of 5.5 minutes, but that's it.. That 8 minute drive resulted in no points for the Bengals.

- Cleveland - So the Pats gave up a TD. Their team has players on it that can make plays.. And a lot of people have given Hue Jackson a lot of credit for the job he's done. Also, if you go back to the Post Game thread for that game, you'll find that a lot of people had issues with the Refs that game. The only reason they got the TD to Hawkins was because of penalties not called that should have been.. We're talking egregious ones.. Not as bad as Burfict going low on Bennett, but pretty damn close.

- The Bills beat the snot out of a team that was playing it's 3rd string QB, didn't have a fully healthy Gronk or Butler and was missing Hightower and Rowe. BB won't make excuses, but it's hard to win when you're that depleted. I expect a fully different team when we face the Bills in two weeks.

- Miami - Tannehill is an average QB. The only reason he was "20-21" late in the 3rd quarter was because of the bogus call on Logan Ryan for PI.. What you also fail to mention is that the reason they were passing so much was because they were down 31-10. Again, go back and look at the Post-Game stuff..

- Arizona? Really? Can you not give a team with that much talent any credit? They have a top 5 offense with the likes of David Johnson at RB, Palmer at QB, Brown and Floyd outside, with Fitzgerald and Gresham inside. Fitzgerald is atypical as a slot receiver and he's a 1st Ballot Hall-of-Famer. So, pretending like we should have stopped them with ease is unrealistic.

 

[DaBruinz]

and yet in the first half, I think Gronk/bennett were paired on a low % of snaps together according to Mike reiss...not sure why.

but I dont think it is a coincidence that once they ran 2 TE sets the offense took off.

Only 7 of bradys passes yesterday were to WR's. that should scare alot of teams as it shows that the Pats have more than one way to kill you.

I believe that Belichick is trying his best to limit how much tape there is on the 2 TE sets the Pats are running.. The less tape there is, the more effective it will be late in the season and in the games that matter.

 

[DaBruinz]

No doubt this point has already been made, but Elandon Roberts looked a lot like Hightower out there today. Tough to do as Hightower was a beast.

Roberts actually reminded me of Tedy Bruschi more than he reminded me of Hightower..

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Bengals fans don't see it that way. I hope Burfict gets fined good for that play. Cinci's fans are just as classless as their team

I think you are right, Gronk was absolutely sticking up for Bennett, both Bennett brothers took cheap shots to the knees on Sunday, coincidence, or a product of the E:60 bit?

Burfect better hope that he only gets fined, it should be another suspension for purposely trying to injury a player.

 

[The Gr8est]

Thank God we don't play in the same division as Burfict. That dive at Bennett's legs was the cheapest ****ing **** I've seen in a long time.

Now Ndamakong Suh feels disrespected.

 

[The Gr8est]

I think you are right, Gronk was absolutely sticking up for Bennett, both Bennett brothers took cheap shots to the knees on Sunday, coincidence, or a product of the E:60 bit?

Burfect better hope that he only gets fined, it should be another suspension for purposely trying to injury a player.

Gotta think that is one more thing Bennett has got to love about being on the Pats, that his teammates have his back.

One more thing to consider when it comes time to consider re-signing with the Pats.